Portret van Joachim Pastorius von Hirtenberg 1679

Editor: This is "Portret van Joachim Pastorius von Hirtenberg," a 1679 print by Johann Alexander Böner, housed in the Rijksmuseum. It strikes me as incredibly formal; the tight oval framing and meticulous details feel very controlled. How would you interpret the visual construction of this portrait? Curator: Note the lines: The circular nature of the encompassing decorative cartouche with lettering, contrasts and contains the sharp details etched to articulate Pastorius. This tension suggests a deliberate juxtaposition between containment and unrestrained detail. Editor: So the tension arises from these competing elements, and is an aesthetic choice? Curator: Precisely. The materiality—engraving on paper—facilitates minute articulations within a restricted tonal range. Böner employs cross-hatching to build volume and depth in Pastorius’s face, clothing and hair. How do you think that limited tonal palette influences our perception? Editor: I think the contrast is interesting - this technique invites viewers to spend time deciphering textures. How would this reflect the intellectual climate of the period? Curator: An astute observation. The formal rendering promotes reason as something that needs deciphering rather than purely an optical observation. Note how this contrasts against baroque painting in oils. It signifies a desire for precision characteristic of that historical moment. This close observation suggests the social values placed on clarity, detail, and an almost scientific assessment of its subject. Editor: I never thought about a portrait needing deciphering before. Thinking about how the artistic choices shape our viewing is interesting. Curator: The choices draw the eye in interesting ways, no?